Tar separator and regulator for the same



A. ROBERTS TAR SEPARATOR AND REGULITOR FOR THE SAME Mar.v 6,` 1923'. l1,447,226

Filed July e, 1920` 7 mmm-sheet 1 ff /9 g5 INVENTOR Mar. 6, 1923.1;'4473226 A. ROBERTS TAR SEPARATOR AND REGULATOR FOR THE SAME FiledJuly 6, 1920 '2 sheets-'Sheet 2 INVENTOR Mdm sa: y

ATTR Ys:

Mar. 6, 1923.' 1,447,226 A. ROBERTS TAR SEPARATOR AND REGULATOR FOR THESAME Filed July, 1920 '7 sheets-sheet s vNfl*- :u l\""`r 4 Mar. 6, 1923.

Filed July IG, 1920 '7 sheets-sheet 4 A. ROBERTS TAR SEPARATOR ANDREGULATOR FOR-THE SAME Mar. 6, 1923. y l 1,447,226

Filed July G, 1920 '7 sheets-smet 5 Mar. 6, -1923.

A. ROBERTS TAR SEPARATQR AND REGULATOR FOR THE SAME Filed July 6, 1920'7 sheets-sheet 6 www f/eSS/ I Mar. 6, 1923. 121`7,226

A. ROBERTS TAR SEPARATOR ND REGULATOR FOR THE SAME Filed July G, 1920 '7sheets-sheet '7 Patented Mar. 5, 1923.

UNITED stares rara y l erica; y

k.ARTHUR ROBERTS, OF -EV'ANS'I0N, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY'M'ESNEASSIGNIVIIENTS,l TO CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE, 0F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

TAR SEPARATOR AND REGULATOR FOR THE Application filed July 6, 1920.Serial No. 394,305.`

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR Ronu'rs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and btate of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in rIar Separatore andRegulators for the Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in tar separat-ors andregulators for the same. The invention has tol do with the constructionof the regulator itself and the combinationof the same with the tarseparator7 and also 'with the construction of the tar separator itself.

In order that the features of the invention may be more easilyunderstood, I will rst explain briefly the 4general construction of thetar separator and its mode of operation,-

and will-then explain the construction and operation of the regulatorand the manner of its combination with the separator. I

One of the features of the invention concerns itself with theconstruction of the tar separator. In this connection an object `is toprovide a tar separator ofsuch form :that the separation or removalofthe tar from the gasesis effected by causing the gases to be dra-wnthrough a series of relatively small orifices under such pressure andvelocity that thecontained tar will be precipitated, so that it will rundown over or can beremoved from said surfaces. In this connection it maybe stated that the effectiveness, with which the tar will be thusremoved, will dependlargely upon the velocity at which the gases aredrawn or forced through the relatively small orifices aforesaid; andthis in turn will depend largely upon the pressure existing on the twosides of the plate or element through which the orifices pass. In casethe volume of gas flowing through the orifices changes., it will beevident that the pressure will also change and also the volume of gaspassing through each orifice, so thatif the velocity of the Gasesflowing through the orices is to be maintained constant ,or`substantially constant, it will be necessary to vary the number oramount of the orifices-from time to time according tothe changes inysaid gas volume.

lOne of the features ofy the invention has to do withvthe provision of aconstruction of separator vwhere/inthe gases are passed through a platelork pla-tes extending-in a more or less vertical fashion and providedwith a series of relatively small orifices atv different verticalelevations, in combination with a container or vat within which ltar maybe contained so that theelevation of said tar will control the numberor. amount of orifices` exposed to the passage of the gas by cuttingoft' more and more of the surfaces of said orifices as the elevation ofthe tar within the container or vat is raised;` F l f The automaticregulation of the said separator for the purpose 'of ensuring asubstantially uniform pressure on both sidesofthe plate or plates may,therefore, be secured by causing the tar toeither rise or fall withinsaid container; and this adjustment orvvariation of the elevation of thetar surface may be made either automatic, or manual, or combined, asdesired.` Another feature of the invention haste do with the provisionofv means whereby the regulationy of the levelof the` tar surface may bevaried either manual, or automatic,`

or by a combination `of thesetwo; land in this connection Lto provide anarrangement wherebyr when automatic regulation is to be secured, vtheregulator itselfvmay be adjusted from time to time so as ,to maintainla.predetermined and selected differential of pressure within theapparatus. Y Other objects and uses of heinvention will appear from avdetailed description of construction vand combinations ofpartshereinafter described and claimed. u

Referring'tothe drawings: v y y Figure l shouf's-afside elevation of a`tar separator embodying certain features of the present inventiomfthetar separatorfin this figure being lshown disassoeiated from theautomatic i'fegulatingy mechanism;

Athe same which consisus in the. features of y Fig. 2 shows a top planview-ccrresponding to Fig. l; p -f Fig. 3 shows ahorizontal sectiontakenon yline 3 8 of Fig.` l, looking in the direction of the arrows; A,y i

v F 1g. l shows aside elevatlQIJ. Q a tal' SQP` arator having attachedthereto a regulator embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 5 shows a view similar to Fig. L1, with the exception that Fig. 5is taken at right angles to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows a detailed elevation of a regulating device;

Fig. 7 shows a vertical cross section of the construction shown in Fig.6, being at right angles to the position ofFig. 5 ;v and Fig. 8 shows atop plan view corresponding to Figs. 6 and 7.

I will iirst describe the construction o tar separator shown indetail'inFigs. 1, 2, and 3, and will'then explaiiiftlie construction oi'regulator which I have illustrated in conjunction with the separator.'

The separator proper comprises a tank 10 generally of cylindrical form,and provided with top j and 'bottom closures 11 and 12. Ordinarily ahorizontal partition 13 will be located across the lower portion of thetank toprovide a manifold or the like let in said lowerportion. A gasinlet connection 15 serves to deliver the untreated gas into saidmanifold.

Extending upwardly from the partition 13 is a series of tubes or pipes16, the upper ends of which are generally' open. Extending down overeach of these tubes or pipes is an enclosedscreen or'plate 17 whoseupper endA is ordinarily closed, and as is clearly evident from Fig. 1the side walls of said plates or screens 17 are perforated usually witha` large number of relatively small per forations. The various platesyor screens 17 may be conveniently carried' by a common spider or'frame13 suspended by a rod 19 which extends through the top 11, said rodconnecting by a chain 20 with a segment 21 on the lever 22 which ispivoted to a bracket 23st a point 24. A rod 25 may be provided havingits upper end connected tothe lever 22v and its lower end to a handwheel 26 so that by turning said handI wheel the lever may be tilted orrocked in order to raise or lower the screens or plates 17 in unison.

The gas entering through the connection 15 and manifold 141;k will passup through the tubes or pipes 16 and' through the plates or screens 17into the space at the upper end of the tank vwhence it may he deliveredthrough a delivery connection 27.

It will be evident thatithe number and amount of the perforations Yexposedy :tor the passage effgas through the screen or pla-tes willdepend 'upon-theVv level oi"v the liquid tar within the tank,andfalsofthe adjustment/of the4v screens or i'al'ates r vertically.

Assuming that the screens or `pla-tes are iiedfin a given verticalyposition, then the amcuntofsaid exposure will depend upon the elevationof the liquid tar intlie 'tank 10. The higher" t'h'es'aid'tar rises" -inA"said" tank the smaller the number and amount of perforations exposed,and consequently the smaller the volume of gas which may pass withoutrise of pressure; or conversely as the tar level is raised, the number;and amount of perforations exposed is decreased, so that the volume ofgas must decrease in given proportion or else the pressure on the twosides of the plates or screens will"in` crease. v

l will now explain-*the construction oi the regulator which I haveillustrated. Said regulator'is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7, and 3, towhich reference may irst be had. This regulator includes a cylinder ortank 28 within which is carried o-il or other suitable liquid at anelevation of perhaps one-half of its height, said elevationbeingconveniently shown in the gauge 29. The cylinder 28 has its top and4bottom portions closed by the cap plates 30 and 31 respectively. f

lVithin the cylinder 28V is located an inverted bell 32 of light andgas-tight construction, and which is free toy move up and down withinthe cylinder. A gas connection 33 communicates withV a pipe 34 which eX-tends upwardly within the bell to a point near its roof.v Consequentlythe space within the bell is subjected to the pressure of the gas fromthe connection 33. Another' connection 35 may be established in thelupperportion of the cylinder 28, so thatthe outside ot the bell will besubjected toi its pressure. Consequently the bell will tend to rise bythe dilerential existingbetwe'en saidipressures.

A rod or stem 36 has its lower portion secured to the roof of thebelhand said lower portion may dependV into the-tube 34 and through abearing 37 which assists in guiding the movement ofthe stem 36 up anddown. The upper end of said stem 36 extends into and is secured toa cap38 and a tube 39 depends downwardly from said cap to a' point near thetop closure'3()` of the 110 cylinder 28. A pair of tubes 40 and l1lexftend upwardly from the cap plate 3()k to a point near the location ofthe cap 38. The tube i() is located inside of the vertically movabletube 39, andthe tube'v 41 is outside of 115 said vertically movabletube, so thata liquid seal may be established for the 'tube "39 betweenthe tubes 40 andfi'l7 as'by theuser of mercury or other liquid. Mercuryis desirable for this purpose since itha's very 120 high specilicgravity and makes iti possible to seal against rela-tively heavy "gaspressures with an apparatus of*ccmparativelysmall height.

Adjacent tothe' apparatus just`I` described 125 located a pair oifpipes-12' and L13, lone of which -seiwes` "as aninlet connection for' theconveyance off tar'into the tank 1Q, and the other of whichAl servestoconveythetarf away trein Saidtenk. 'Y i'dinilly"`thepipel42 1 l be theinlet'pipe and the pipe 43- the discharge pipe. lVithin these pipes arelocated are provided with the pinions` 50 and`51 re-y spectively. A gear.52 is ypivoted in said frame. said gear meshing' .simultaneously withthe pinions 50 and 51. A lever arm 53 is secured to the gear 52 so thatby rocking saidk lever arm, the butterfly valves 44 and 45 will beopened and closed or viceversa' in oppositionto each other. rlhat is tosay,`

the opening of one o f these valves is simultaneously accompanied by thecorresponding closing of the other. vThe cap 38 carries a cross member54 which connects tothe lever arm 53 by a pair of links 55 and 56, and'said lever arm is conveniently bifuicated in its central portion, assho-Wn in Fig.' 8, so that said central portion surrounds the aforesaidmercury or other seal.` It is, there# fore, evident that the lrising andfalling of" the bellv 32 causes theopening and vclosing of the butterflyvalves.' A dash pot 57 lmay be provided for dampening the movements ofthe lever V53, the upper and lower ends of saiddash pot being connectedby a pip`e59- which has the valve 60.

The regulator so far .described may be provided With counter-weights 61and 62 on' the lever arm 53 by means of which adjustment it is possibleto set the apparatus to maintain at substantially uniform amount thedi'erential pressure Within Wide limits.'

The aforesaid inlet and outlet pipes connect into thetanlr 'l0 asclearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pipe 42 ordinarily connecting at arelatively high elevation 63, and the pipe 43 ordinarily connecting at arelatively"y low elevation 64." It is, therefore, possible to' secure `aWide range. of regulation ofy the operating elevation of the tar Withinthe tank;

The connection 33 from the lower portion ofthe regulatorleads by' a pipe65 to the inlet gas connection l5, and the connection 35 from the upperportion of the regu# lator leads by a pipe 66 to the outlet or de -llivery gas connection. 26. With this arrangement the regulator willoperate aceord-` ing to the diiferential pressure existing withf in thetank 10.

The operation of this combined arrange-- ment Will now be readilyapparent. s'tlie differential pressure increases, the bell 32 will rise,and the inlet butterfly 44'ivill close to some extent, and the outletbutteriiyl valve 45 will simultaneously open. The result will be thatla' smaller amount of tar will delivered into ythe tank 10 vvvhileat the'samev `1- timethedischarge ofy tar `from "said tank surface ofthe tarwill falli this surface falls,the number and ramount of perforal,

'will Vbe more` readily accomplished, and *the tions inthe screens 'or'plates jwillincrease,

thereby permitting" a more:readyfflovvjof gas and being accompanied by'a reduction in' differential pressure. The action-*Will thus beperfectly automatic, and'thepressurevvill very y small be maintainedconstant limits ofk fluctuation.'

I Claim;

l. In a machine of the class described, tar

sepa-rating' means comprising a 'tanlna series of fixed pipesupstanding* from' -tl ie" i lloxver portion of the same, a vertically`movable bell over each'offsaid pipes having in itsy side walls kajseries of` relatively small'l perforations, means for manually adjustingthe elevationof said-'bells With respect tojxsaid f pipes,` a'connection for delivering lgas 'simultaneouslyinto the loi'iver` endsof vall of said pipes, a connection for delivering gas from the "uppervportion of the tank'and. means for regulating the.v operationoffsaidsepa-l rator comprising a'fluid inlet connectionjin the'upper portion'ofthetank, 4a fluidfo'u'tletaV A connection in the'lovverfporti'o'n oftheI ta'nlr,v4

valves in both of said connections'. and means lfor simultaneouslycausing an" openingvr movementof one valve and a IclosingA movement ofthe'other Vvalve operable according 'f l' "lOO to the differential4of'ip-ressure:fbetwveen` "the inlet and outletl gasconnections, substantially as described.` "f

2. Ina machine oftheclass described, tar

separating' means comprising a ta'nlrfjase-"`.5,'` v

ries 'of fixed'pipes upstanding from the lov/'er portion of the'` same;a vertically movable bell over each olfsaid pipes having `in its' sideWalls a 'series of relatively`- small per-.

forations', af'conne'ction for' delivering" 'gas simultaneously into thelovver ends of all said pipes, a connection for delivering ,gas

from the` upper portiony of the tank, andi` means forregulatinglthefoperation of said-I separator yc'zonipris'ing fluid,inlet connection in the upper portion of the tank, a fluid outtanlr,valves in bothof said connections, and

l"iis i. let connection in thefl'owerportion ofthe 1 means forsimultaneously causing an opening f movement of one valveand 'a `closingmovel2() ment of thefother valve operable" according'- to thedifferential of pressure between the' inlet and outlet' vgasconnections', suhstan-f" -tially as described.

In a' machine ofthe class'described,f't'arii separating means comprisinga tank, 'a pipe upstanding from the lower portion "of the same. a,vertically vmovable bell' over 'said' pipe havinof in its sidevvallsaseries of rela'- tively small `perforations means .forv inan-k u'allyyadjusting the elevation off'said bel l` i so' -I"or simultaneouslyCausing an opening movement of one valve yand a closing movement oftheother valve operable' according to theV differential of pressure betweenthe inlet and outlet gas connections, substantially as described I A Yil. In a machine of the classdescribed, tar

separating means' comprisinga tank, a pipe upstanding from the'lowerportion of the same, an encircling pipe surroundingl the first mentionedpipe and having in its sidewalls a series of lrelatively'smallperforations, a connection for delivering gas into thelower end olz theupstanding pipe, a'coniiection for delivering' gas from the upperportionv of the tank, and'means for regulating the op eration of said'separator comprising a fluid inlet .connection in the upper portionofthe tank, aluid outlet'connection in thev lower portion of vthe tank,valves in both loi* said connections, and ymeans for simultaneouslycausing anopening movement of one valve and a closing movement of thekother valve operable according to the differential of pressure betweenthe inlet and outlet gas connections, .substantially .as described.L

ln a machine of the class described, tar separating means comprising-atank, a pipeV within the ysame havingfin its side walls a seriesofrelatively small perforations, a connection tor delivering gas into thelowerv portion of 'said pipe, a connection't'orv de,

livering gas from4 the upper portion of the" tank, and means forregulating the operaf tion Vof ,said separator comprising a fluidinletfconnection in the "upperportion for the' tank, a fluid voutletconnection in the lower portion ofthe'tank, A-valves in both lof saidconnections, andmeans for simultaneously causing an opening movement. ofone valve and a closingmovement of the other valve 7 operable according,tothe*differentiall of pressureA between the inlet and;` foutlet gasconnections, substantially as described.

6.l a machineiof the classfdesoribed, tar p, separatingmeansfcomprisinga tank having A' onfits nterior'a partition :providedwitha seriesiffof relativelyfsmall perforations, gasv Connections Vinthe'upper and lower portions ofthe tank ySor.introducing and withdraw#ing :gas from the tank, said gas passing.

through the vperfo'rationsiof said partitiom and means `or regulatiiiigvthe operationv of said separator comprising inlet and Outlet liuid.connections 1 into the ltankt-valves in lootliy 'ofsaid connections; and"'me'ai'isfor si`l multaneously causingan opening movement,

of one valve andaclosing movement of the.

other valve operable according to the differ?l ential of pressurebetween the inlet and outlet gas' connections, substantiallyY asdescribed.

7. In a machine of the class described, tar

separating'means including a partition prof vided with a series ofrelatively small perforations, a container. for tar or the likesurrounding said partition, means for directing gasthroughithe,perforationsof said parti-` tion, and meansfor regulatingthe elevation of the tar Aon said partition including conneetions fordelivering tar into and yremoving tarl from said enclosure, valves insaid connections, and means for simultaneously causing anopeningmovement of one valve and y,a closingA movement of theothervalve" operablel according to the differential of pressure on [the twosides. orn the partition, substantially as described.

8. ln a Vmachine of the class described,"tar separating meansyiiicludinga partitionprovided witha series of relativelysinall perfforations,a container for' tar and the like surrounding said partition,means for directing gas through the perfo-rations of` saidr4 partition,and means forregulating the elevation of, the tar on said partitionincludingconnectionsflior delivering tar into and removing tar from saidcontainer, valves in d operable according tothe differential of gaspressure on the two sides of the partition,

, and a positive connection from said verti- 9. In a machine of theclass described, tar

separating 'means .including a. partition provided iwith a series ofrelativelyismall perforations, ,a container for taror ythelikesurrounding said partition, meansk for direct ,said connections,- avertically movable belling gasthroughy the perforations ofsaidpartition, and means for regulating the elel vationof the tar on saidpartition including'v connections for delivering tar into and re` movingtar -from said container, `valvesl in saidwconnections,vertically'vgmovable belly operable according to thedifferential of gasvpressure on the two'y sides of the partition,

and means for moving lthe 'valvessimu, ltanefv ously, in oppositedirections synchronously with the mevemenfsof @babel-1.f.wherebyl theamount .'ofopening .aiidclosing `inoveinent of.

the1 valves isv 'directly dependent upon `the j amountof verticalmovement of the bell,

substantially described@ through the perorations of said partition, andmeans for regulatingthe eleva-tion of the tar on'said partitionincluding connections for delivering tar into and removing tar from saidcontainer, valves in said conneetions, and means, operable according tothe differential of pressure on the tWo sides of the partition, forsimultaneously moving the valves lin opposite directions andsynchronously with the changes of dierential of pressure,v wherebytheopening and clos- ARTHUR ROBERTS.

